Device for rolling a connector sheet around the butting points of cigarettes and filters



June 16, 1964 B. SCHUBERT 5 3 DEVICE FOR ROLLING A CONNECTOR smear AROUND THE BUTTING POINTS OF CIGARETTES AND FILTERS Filed Sept. 20, 1961 Fig.1

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1964 B. SCHUBERT 3,137,302 DEVICE FOR ROLLING A CONNECTOR SHEET AROUND THE BUTTING POINTS OF CIGARETTEIS AND FILTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1961 June 16, 1964 B. SCHUBERT 3,137,302 DEVICE FOR ROLLING A CONNECTOR SHEET AROUND THE BUTTING POINTS OF CIGARETTES AND FILTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 20, 1961 June 16, 1964 B. SCHUBERT 3 137,302

DEVICE FOR ROLLING A CONNECTOR SHEET AROUND THE BUTTIl lG Filed Sept. 20, 1961 POINTS OF CIGARETTES AND FILTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 7

United States Patent Ofiice 3,137,302 Patented June 16, 1964 3,137,302 DEVICE FOR ROLLING A CONNECTOR SHEET AROUND THE BUTTING POINTS OF CIGA- RETIES AND FILTERS Bernhard Schubert, Hamburg-Lohbrugge, Germany, assignor to Hauni-Werke Kiirber & Co. K.G., Hamburg- Bergedorf, Germany Filed Sept. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 139,518 Claims priority, application Germany June 14, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 131-94) This invention relates to a device for attaching connector sheets around the butting ends of aligned pairs of cigarettes and filter mouthpiece attachments interposed between said pairs, and particularly constitutes a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 737,406, filed May 23, 1958, and now Patent 3,001,528 issued on Sept. 26,1961. 1 p

In producing filter mouthpiece cigarettes it is known to roll a connector sheet in the manner of a sleeve around a mouthpiece of twice the final length and around the ends of cigarettes pressing against both ends of the mouthpice. If the two groups united in this way are severed in the center of the mouthpiece, two filter mouthpiece cigarettes are obtained.

This rolling-on of the connector sheets around the groups offers the advantage in relation to other methods for producing filter cigarettes, that attachment of the connector sheet to the cigarettes is obtained reliably and satisa factorily at all points without air pockets being formed.

In order to execute such a rolling operation devices are known in which the groups are deposited on one end of a connector sheet which is suppliedby a movable carrier and is guided together with the connector sheet over a stationary counter surface. The connector sheet is then wound or rolled upon the group by rolling against this counter surface. Such devices have the property that the groups are guided only by two smooth surfaces and therefore, there is no reliable positive and uniform guidance means to retain precise spacing of the groups. Exact maintenance of the spacing or pitch is, however, highly desirable in order that the filter cigarettes can be fed forward after rolling at a definite uniform pitch or spacing.

It is also known to limit the rolling movement of the groups by stops which extend over the whole width of one of the grooved drums feeding the groups. As a result of these stops the connector sheets cannot be rolled down completely as they must press against the stops. The advantage of rolling the connector sheets around the groups such as has-been referred to above is no longer present with this construction for precisely at the critical points at the beginning and at the ends of the rolling of the connector sheet around the groups, these parts are not rolled but merely pressed down. For this reason such stops do not prevent the formation of air pockets particularly adjacent the overlap points of the connector sheet, which air pockets become objectionably noticeable when smoking the cigarettes.

The invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for producing filter mouthpiece cigarettes or the like by means of connector sheets and with a satisfactory rolling operation with positive guiding of the groups and maintaining of their spacing or pitch and employs a device in which the groups are deposited on connector sheets lo cated on a rotating drum or other conveyor and are then moved past a counter surface wherein stops or like projections form limiting elements on some part of the periphery of (the drum or other conveyor or for limiting the rolling movement of the groups whereas the other part of the drum is of smooth form.

The limiting elements serving for maintaining the pitch are thus omitted over those parts of the drum which re.- ceive the connector sheets and the spacing between the limiting elements is such that the rolling path between them corresponds at least to the length of the connector sheets.

The limiting elements are conveniently formed as fins which embody a profile corresponding to the circumference of the cigarette in the region of their surface parts which engage the cigarettees. Adjacent these fins or webs obliquely disposed suction ducts may be provided directed approximately to the center point of the cigarettes which retain the cigarettes in either end position.

Suction ducts are also provided for retaining the connector sheets in the parts of the drum receiving such sheets. The suction in the region of the connector sheets is controlled during the rolling operation in such a manner that the connector sheet is held under tension while rolling over the surface of the drum. r

The advantage of the invention consists in the fact that the conveyor, e.g., the drum on which the assembled groups of articles are rolled can be used simultaneously as a cutting drum without it being necessary to provide movable cutter supports such as are required in a number of devices of this kind. I

Therefore, according to one feature of the invention, the part of the drum periphery not provided with limiting elements, i.e., in the region supporting the connector sheets, is used as the cutting support andit consists for this reason of a hard metal ring or is provided at least in the region of the cutting point with counter cutter elements of hard metal. The cutting point is provided at the line adjoining the end of the rolling movement on the periphery of the drum. The incoming connector sheet is arranged to slip on the drum in known manner to an extent such that on completion of the slip and at the commencement of the following cut the forward edge of the connector sheet lies at the beginning of the rolling movement. Separate control devices are provided for the suction for retaining the cigarettes and the suction for retaining the connector sheets.

Examples of the invention are shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of part of a filter cigarette machine with the connector drum;

FIG. 2 is a general perspective view of the connector drum; w

FIG. 3 shows the connector drum in axial section;

. FIG. 4 is a top view of a portionof a modified connector drum provided with slidable holding rods;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view' along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a portion of another modified connector drum provided with slidable holding rods arranged in radial slots of the drum, and 7 FIG. '7 is an end view of a portion of the drum and the parts mounted thereon and viewed in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 6.

Referring to the FIGURES 1 to 3-'incl., the assembled group G consisting of two cigarettesand an interposed filter positioned on the assembling drum 1 is de livered in known. manner to connector sheets B on a conveyor means shown in-the drawings as an assembly or connector drum 2. During the travel on the connector drum 2 the group is wrappedby means of the connector sheets B and then delivered to the following groove drum 3 on which the group is :severed to form two filter cigarettes. The connectordrum 2. is also formed at the same time as a cutter drum and serves for severing the connector sheets B by means of a cutter. drum .4, the incoming strip V of connector sheet material slipping on the drum 4 to give the required spacing.

The connector drum 2 consistsof a drum body 5 (FIG. 3) of which the smooth peripheralsurface ,61arranged only in the region receiving the connector 'sheets B, serves as a cutter support. In order to obtain an outer surface portion which is not liable to wear a hard metal ring 7 (FIG. 3) is shrunk into position to form the outer surface. On both sides of this hard metal ring 7 the drum body is recessed to form smaller diameters portions. In this region two flanged rings 8 are fitted, the outer surfaces of which are provided with fins 9. The surfaces 9a and 9b of the fins are of a shape which corresponds to the peripheral parts of the cigarettes and the distance R (see FIG. 1) representing the length of the rolling movement is preferably not lessthan and is approximately equal to the length of the connector sheet B. A stationary rolling surface 10 is provided coaxially to the periphery of the connector drum 2 as a counter surface for efiecting the rolling operation.

The spacing of the rolling surface 10 from the sur face 6 of the connector drum 2 is adjustable in order to allow for adjustment of the effective rolling pressure and adjustment according to the size of the cigarette.

Suction ducts 11 and 12 are provided in the region of the surfaces 9a and 9b which retain the cigarettes in the two end positions. These ducts are arranged obliquely as shown in FIG. 1 and are directed approximately to the midpoint of the group. Also suction ducts 13 are provided for retaining the connector sheet during cutting and rolling, these ducts being arranged in the region of the support surface for the connector sheets. In the embodiment shown it is not necessary to provide special counter cutter surfaces since the whole jacket 6 consists of hard metal. The suction for the ducts 11 and 12 is supplied through the suction chamber 14 and suction ducts 15, 16 and 17, and the suction for the ducts 13 through the suction chamber 18 and ducts 19, 20 and 21. The chambers 14 and 18 are of arcuate form to apply suction over desired peripheral zones of the connector drum 2 in well known manner.

For rolling the connector sheet B about the butting points between filters and cigarettes, strip material V is drawn in known manner from a reel not shown, gummed on the face opposite the cutter drum 2, fed to the cutter drum 2 and retained thereon by suction. The cutters of the cutter drum 4 cut connector sheet pieces B from the strip V which are spaced from the leading end of the incoming strip. After cutting, a connector sheet B lies between two fins 9 as shown in projection in FIG. 1.

The device shown operates as follows: Between pairs of aligned cigarettes delivered from a cigarette magazine or directly from a cigarette rod machine there is inserted a filter plug of twice the final length in known manner. The group G so formed is assembled on the assembly drum 1 for example by means of guide blades and deposited on the end of the connector sheet B lying on the connector drum 2. The filter plug lying between the cigarettes retains its position on the one hand by adhesion to the gummed connected sheets and on the other hand by the pressure of the ends of the cigarettes. The group G lying in this form in engagement with the trailing surface 9a of the fin 9 is fed into the region of the counter rolling surface 10 during the further rotation of the connector drum 2. n contact therewith the group G is moved away from the surface 9a and the connector sheet B is wound around the group by the specific rotation thereof to the extent of one complete revolution, although more than one revolution can be provided for if desired. The length of the rolling path provided by the counter surface corresponds precisely or at least with the length of the path R which the groups can execute between two fins. For this reason the group is brought into engagement with the leading surface 9b of the next following fin 9 after traversing the rolling point. At this point, i.e., against the surface 9b, it is retained by the suction delivered through the suction duct 12 until delivery to the cutting drum 3. The holding of the groups against the surfaces 9a and 9b can also be effected by other suitable retaining means, for example lateral stops or springs or guides arranged on the periphery of the connector drum, as will be described hereinafter.

In accordance with the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, rods are slidably mounted in sleeves 46 which are parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum 2'. The sleeves 46 are fixedly attached to the end face of the drum 2 by means of screws and suitable brackets 46a. At the outer end 45:: of each rod 45 is adjustably attached by means of a set screw or the like a control yoke 48 which has a radially inwardly extending arm 48a which carries a roller 49. A helical spring 47 on each rod 45 between the outer end of the respective sleeve 46 and the respectiveyoke 48 urges the respective roller 49 in engagement with a stationary cam 50 in a direction away from the adjacent end face of the drum 2'. Pairs of rods 45, 45 are located at each side of the projections 9' to hold the assemblies in requisite position prior to and following the wrapping step. FIG. 4 shows one rod 45 and one rod 45' but FIG-5 shows two rods 45.

The operation of the device shown in the FIGS. 4 and 5 is as follows: i

The groups are held against the projections 9' as long as the rods 45 are in the inwardly extended position as shown. In this position each control yoke arm 48a engages with its roller 49 thereon the raised portion 51 (FIG. 4) of the respective cam 50. Upon rotation of the drum 2 in the direction of the arrow 52 (FIG. 4) the rollers 49 roll along depressed portions 51a of the respective cams 50, thereby causing an axial movement of the rods 45 in the sleeves 46 away from the group by the springs 47 so that the group is free to roll along the connector sheet B. The arrangement of rods 45' (only one shown) which selectively hold the groups against the leading faces of the projections 9' is analogous. These rods are reciprocable by rollers 49 which track cams 50' and are rotatable in arms 48a.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the conveyor drum 2" is substantially the same as shown in FIGURES 1-5 and is provided with circumferentially spaced projections 9" which are movable V radially and are controlled by a cam 100 and a follower lever 101. The drum 2" is also provided with radial slots 53 in which radially slidable blade-like arms 54 are arranged which in their outwardly extended position hold the groups against one face of the projections 9" on the drum. The mechanisms for controlling the movement of the arms 54 are arranged on the end faces of the drum and each thereof comprises, as shown in FIG. 7, a bell crank lever 55 pivoted about a bolt 56. One arm of this.

bell crank lever 55 is provided with a fork 57 which engages a pin 58 attached to the radially slidable arm 54. The other arm 59 of the bell crank lever 55 carries a roller 60 which engages a cam 62. A spring 61 urges the bell crank lever 55 in a direction in which the roller 60 is kept in engagement with the cam 62. As shown in FIG. 7, the bell crank lever 55 has been moved by the cam 62 to a position in which the blade-like arm 54 is withdrawn from the surface of the drum 2" so that the group is free to roll along the connector drum 2" and become wrapped into the connector sheet B. Similar arms 54' are provided at the other side of the projection 9" to hold the assembled group in wrapped position. The control cam 62 and the bell crank lever with its roller thereon can be omitted on the other end of the connector drum if the bolt 56 is replaced by a shaft which extends entirely through the drum, parallel to the axis of rotation of the same, and is provided on its other end .In each of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive, the control cams are constructed in such a manner that they cause the rods 45 and the blade-like arms 54 to move into their operative group holding position as soon as the connector sheets have been wrapped around the groups and the latter have come into engagement with the leading surfaces of the next following projections 9' or 9" sothat these arms and rods hold the wrapped groups in position until they are delivered to the drum 3.

The mechanisms shown in the drawings in diagrammatic form are completed by means well known in the art by any suitable means for rotating the drums 1, 2 and 3 and the cutter device 4 in synchronism and for feeding and gumming the strip V, but as these means will be evident to those skilled in the art it has not been thought to show them in further detail to avoid superfluous illustrations.

What I claim is:

1. A device for attaching connector sheets around the butting ends of aligned pairs of cigarettes and mouthpiece attachments interposed between said pairs, said connector sheets being wider than said attachments and of a sufficient length to completely enwrap the attachments and to unite them with the cigarettes on each side, said device comprising a rotary conveyor drum having a smooth central portion arranged to receive and compris ing means to hold successive adhesive connector sheets, uniformly spaced and axially extending projections on the circumference of said conveyor drum on each side of said smooth central portion of the same, said conveyor drum receiving the cigarettes and attachments with the attachments and the end parts of the two cigarettes overlying the connector sheets and with the two cigarettes in engagement with the trailing faces of the projections, a stationary counter surface adjacent the conveyor drum to cause the cigarettes and attachments to roll relatively to the conveyor drum and thereby to roll the connector sheets around the attachments to unite them with the cigarettes, the mutual spacing of said projections being such as to allow the cigarettes to roll to such an extent as is necessary to completely enwrap the connector sheet around the butting ends, feeder means adapted to feed aligned groups consisting of cigarettes with interposed mouthpieces against the trailing faces of the projections on the conveyor drum, the mouthpieces being held by the connector sheets previously placed onto and held on the smooth central portion of the conveyor drum, each group being rolled by the counter surface until the cigarettes are engaged by the leading faces of the next following projections, means located in spaced relation to and adjacent said projections for retaining the groups in engagement with said leading faces of the next following projections, and means to remove the assembled aligned groups from said conveyor drum after being enwapped by the connector sheets.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said means for retaining the groups in engagement with said leading faces of the next following projections includes members movably mounted on said drum, a stationary cam mounted adjacent one end face of said drum, cam followers pivotally mounted on said drum, and means operated by said cam followers for moving said members into and out of engagement with said groups which are in engagement with said leading faces.

3. A device for attaching connector sheets around the butting ends of aligned pairs of cigarettes and mouthpiece attachments interposed between said pairs, said connector sheets being wider than said attachments and of a sufficient length to completely enwrap the attachments and to unite them with the cigarettes on each side, said device comprising a rotary conveyor drum having a smooth central portion arranged to receive and comprising means to hold successive adhesive connector sheets, uniformly spaced and axially extending projections on the circumference of said conveyor drum on each side of said smooth central portion of the same, said conveyor drum receiving the cigarettes and attachments with the attachments and the end parts of the two cigarettes overlying the connector sheets and with the two cigarettes in engagement with the trailing faces of the projections, 'a stationary counter surface adjacent the conveyor drum to cause the cigarettes and attachments to roll relatively to the conveyor drum and thereby to roll the connector sheets around the attachments to unite them with the cigarettes, the mutual spacing of said projections being such as to allow the cigarettes to roll to such an extent as is necessary to completely enwrap the connector sheet around the butting ends, feeder means adapted to feed aligned groups consisting of cigarettes with interposed mouthpieces against the trailing faces of the projections on the conveyor drum, the mouthpieces being held by the connector sheets previously placed onto and held on the smooth central portion of the conveyor drum, each group being rolled by the counter surface until the cigarettes are engaged by the leading faces of the next following projections, means located adjacent and in spaced relations to said projections for holding the groups in engagement with the trailing faces of said projections while the respective groups are moved by the drum toward said counter surface and for holding the groups in engagement with the leading faces of the next following projections after the respective groups move beyond said counter surface, and means to remove the assembled aligned groups from said conveyor drum after being enwrapped by the connector sheets.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which said means for holding the groups in engagement with said faces of said projections includes members mounted on said drum for relative movement with respect to the same into and out of engagement with said groups when the latter engage the respective faces, a stationary cam arranged adjacent at least one end face of said connector drum, and means operated by said cam and operatively. connected with said members to control the movements thereof.

5. A device according to claim 3, in which said means for holding the groups in engagement with said faces of said projections comprises longitudinally slidable rods, bearings mounted on said drum-for slidably supporting said rods in a direction parallel to said projections, and cam operated means operatively connected with said slidable rods for moving the same completely out of the range of said projections and the groups in engagement therewith.

6. A device according to claim 3, in which said means for holding the groups in engagement with said faces of said projections comprise longitudinally slidable rods, bearings mounted on said drum for slidably supporting said rods in a direction parallel to said projections, a stationary cam mounted adjacent one end face of said connector drum, and cam follower means mounted on said connector drum and operatively connected with said slidable rods for moving the same completely out of the range of said projections and the groups in engagement therewith.

7. A device according to claim 3, in which said means for holding the groups in engagement with said faces of said projections comprises radially slidable arms mounted in radial slots provided in said conveyor drum and arranged parallel to said projections, and cam operated means operatively connected with said radially slidable arms for withdrawing the same into said conveyor drum and away from the groups engaging said projections and for moving said slidable arms to an outwardly projecting position in which they engage the groups which are placed against said projections.

8. A device according to claim 3, in which said means for holding the groups in engagement with either one of said faces of said projections comprises radially slidable anns mounted in radial slots provided in said conveyor drum and arranged parallel to said projections, a stationary cam mounted adjacent one end face of said conveyor drum and cam follower means on said connector drum operatively connected 'with said'radially slidable arms for withdrawing the same into said connector drum and away from the groups engaging said projections and for moving said slidahle arms to an outwardly projecting position in which they engage the groups which are placed against said projections.

9. A device according to claim 3, in which said means for holding the groups in engagement with said faces of said projections comprises radially slidable arms mounted in radial slots provided in said conveyor drum and arranged parallel to said projections, a stationary cam mounted adjacent one end face of said conveyor drum, and cam follower means including bell crank levers pivotally attached to the end face of said conveyor drum position in which they engage the groups which are placed against said projections.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Creuzburg Mar. 26, 1957 2,809,639 Edwards Oct. 15, 1957 2,864,379 Korber Dec. 16, 1958 3,001,528 Schubert Sept. 26, 1961 a 

1. A DEVICE FOR ATTACHING CONNECTOR SHEETS AROUND THE BUTTING ENDS OF ALIGNED PAIRS OF CIGARETTES AND MOUTHPIECE ATTACHMENTS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PAIRS, SAID CONNECTOR SHEETS BEING WIDER THAN SAID ATTACHMENTS AND OF A SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO COMPLETELY ENWRAP THE ATTACHMENTS AND TO UNITE THEM WITH THE CIGARETTES ON EACH SIDE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A ROTARY CONVEYOR DRUM HAVING A SMOOTH CENTRAL PORTION ARRANGED TO RECEIVE AND COMPRISING MEANS TO HOLD SUCCESSIVE ADHESIVE CONNECTOR SHEETS, UNIFORMLY SPACED AND AXIALLY EXTENDING PROJECTIONS ON THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID CONVEYOR DRUM ON EACH SIDE OF SAID SMOOTH CENTRAL PORTION OF THE SAME, SAID CONVEYOR DRUM RECEIVING THE CIGARETTES AND ATTACHMENTS WITH THE ATTACHMENTS AND THE END PARTS OF THE TWO CIGARETTES OVERLYING THE CONNECTOR SHEETS AND WITH THE TWO CIGARETTES IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TRAILING FACES OF THE PROJECTIONS, A STATIONARY COUNTER SURFACE ADJACENT THE CONVEYOR DRUM TO CAUSE THE CIGARETTES AND ATTACHMENTS TO ROLL RELATIVELY TO THE CONVEYOR DRUM AND THEREBY TO ROLL THE CONNECTOR SHEETS AROUND THE ATTACHMENTS TO UNITE THEM WITH THE CIGARETTES, THE MUTUAL SPACING OF SAID PROJECTIONS BEING SUCH AS TO ALLOW THE CIGARETTES TO ROLL TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS IS NECESSARY TO COMPLETELY ENWRAP THE CONNECTOR SHEET AROUND THE BUTTING ENDS, FEEDER MEANS ADAPTED TO FEED ALIGNED GROUPS CONSISTING OF CIGARETTES WITH INTERPOSED MOUTHPIECES AGAINST THE TRAILING FACES OF THE PROJECTIONS ON THE CONVEYOR DRUM, THE MOUTHPIECES BEING HELD BY THE CONNECTOR SHEETS PREVIOUSLY PLACED ONTO AND HELD ON THE SMOOTH CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CONVEYOR DRUM, EACH GROUP BEING ROLLED BY THE COUNTER SURFACE UNTIL THE CIGARETTES ARE ENGAGED BY THE LEADING FACES OF THE NEXT FOLLOWING PROJECTIONS, MEANS LOCATED IN SPACED RELATION TO AND ADJACENT SAID PROJECTIONS FOR RETAINING THE GROUPS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LEADING FACES OF THE NEXT FOLLOWING PROJECTIONS, AND MEANS TO REMOVE THE ASSEMBLED ALIGNED GROUPS FROM SAID CONVEYOR DRUM AFTER BEING ENWAPPED BY THE CONNECTOR SHEETS. 